Aug 27, 2021 Get the fastest and smoothest gaming performance with BlueStacks - the world’s most popular, safest and FREE Android emulator for Windows and Mac. Trusted by over 500M gamers. BlueStacks is a PC platform. Since you are on your phone, we are going to send you to the Google Play page. (In some cases BlueStacks uses affiliate links when linking to Google Play) Sorry, BlueStacks is only for PC or Mac BlueStacks. BlueStacks 4 is not available on Windows XP. You must have Windows 7 or higher. Windows 10 is recommended. Jun 08, 2021 Your system must meet the following requirements to be able to successfully install and run BlueStacks on macOS. NOTE: BlueStacks is not supported on Mac computers older than 2014 and Mac computers with M1 chips. Once your system meets either the minimum or recommended requirements, you can download BlueStacks by clicking here.
BlueStacks for Mac Free Download, Download BlueStacks for Mac Free, BlueStacks for Mac Free, BlueStacks MacBook Pro, BlueStacks Mac Free Download.
There are many android applications that we use on our smartphones these days and a lot of us would really like to use those same apps on our Windows or Mac personal computers. If you fall under this same category then wonder no more, because Bluestacks will give you just the opportunity to install and use your favourite android applications on your Windows and Mac computers even faster than the mobile devices.
Contents
- 3 How to Download Bluestacks for PC Windows
- 4 How to Download Bluestacks for Mac
- 7 How to Fix Bluestacks Engine Won’t Start Error
- 7.2 Change to DirectX and Change your RAM Capacity
- 8 Fixed: Bluestacks Snapchat not Working
Bluestacks App Player
So, what then is this Bluestacks I am talking about? Well, for those of you are might be hearing about it for the first time, Bluestacks is an Android Emulator or App Player developed by an American tech company with the same name. This company also built some added cloud-based multi-platform products and services that work with it. What Bluestacks actually does, is it gives you the users that leverage to be able to run android applications on Windows and Mac Operating Systems.
The app is easy to download and install as software for both Windows and Mac operating systems. Once installed, the app creates a virtual Android operating system within the Windows and Mac environment making it possible to install APKs on your computers. The biggest advantage of using Bluestacks 4 is the fact that you can enjoy the key features of cross-platform apps with more functions for free.
I have been enjoying my favourite mobile games on my Mac and it is faster and better on the bigger screen. So, if you want six times faster performance, access to Google Play Store and over 1.4 million applications all on your Windows and Mac without any compatibility challenges, follow this step by step guide.
Features of Bluestacks
Bluestacks comes with a lot of great features that you will definitely enjoy. When I first installed the software on my Mac computer, it did really well in terms of performance while playing “Need For Speed”. Check out some of the features associated with this awesome android emulator app.
- It has intuitive keymapping which lets you set controls on your keyboard, gamepad or mouse.
- Sleek User-Interface with easy navigation.
- It offers 6x faster performance than the fastest mobile smartphone with better graphics.
- It runs on Android N (7.1.2).
- Enjoy add-ons like Quests, Bluestacks Store and more.
- Play 3 games at once from different Google Play Accounts using the Bluestacks Multi-instance feature.
- You can play Pro games by converting Bluestacks store items into points.
- Enjoy over 1.4 million games, over 500 thousand flash games and stream videos on Facebook and Twitch.
How to Download Bluestacks for PC Windows
I must say before you start the download and installation process, you have to make sure that your Windows PC is compatible and meets the following requirements to avoid any issues as you proceed.
System Requirement for Windows
Operating System: | Windows XP, 7, 8/8.1, 10 |
Processor: | Intel or AMD |
RAM & Disk space: | 2GB RAM & 4GB Disk space |
Require Graphics: | Yes |
Privileges: | Administrator |
Require Internet: | Yes |
How to Install Bluestacks on PC Windows
- First of all, Download Bluestacks from the above link and once it is finished, double click on bluestacks.exe setup file from your download folder.
- You will get a popup warning you about the new software installation. Click “Run” to proceed with the installation.
- Grant the software administrator rights after file extraction are finished, so Bluestacks can work without issues on your PC.
- Accept the user license by ticking the small box at the bottom right of the Bluestacks installation window and click “Install Now”. You will also see an option to customize Bluestacks before you hit Install Now if you want to.
- Your installation will start immediately, so you have to wait a few minutes depending on your computer’s specifications for it to finish.
- Click “Complete” when the installation is completed to close the installation window.
- Bluestacks will automatically launch itself and it will take a while to setup on the first-time startup.
- You will be prompted to create a Google account or login if you already have an existing one, once the first-time initial setup is completed.
- Once you are signed in to your Google account in Bluestacks, make sure to grant it all permissions to Google Play Store so it can be connected. This will enable you to search and install apps directly on your PC from there.
If you followed these steps carefully, it means you have successfully installed Bluestacks on your Windows PC without issues.
How to Download Bluestacks for Mac
If you are wondering whether it would be easy to install Bluestacks emulator on your Mac operating system, well, wonder no more. You can install this application software but you first of all need to make sure your Mac computer meets the following minimum requirements to run it smoothly.
System Requirement for Mac OS
Operating System: | Mac OS Sierra (10.12) High Sierra (10.13) Mojave (10.14) |
RAM & Disk space: | 4GB RAM & 4GB Disk space |
Require Graphics: | Yes |
Privileges: | Administrator |
Require Internet: | Yes |
How to Install Bluestacks on Mac OS
- Go to your download folder and double-click bluestacks.dmg file after the download.
- Bluestacks installer will then be verified by your Mac OS. Once the verification is done, you will get a “Are you sure you want to Open it” prompt.
- Click “Open” to proceed.
- Then click “Install Now” in the installation window.
- Enter your password when you get the prompt saying “Bluestacks is trying to install a new helper tool” to proceed.
- Wait for it to load on your Mac computer which may take some minutes.
- You will get another prompt saying “System Extention Blocked”. Click the “Open Security Privacy” option.
- Then “Security & Privacy” settings will popup. Click “Allow” at the bottom right to continue the installation which will take some extra minutes.
- Launch Bluestacks once the installation is completed and start enjoying your favourite android apps on your Mac.
How to Install APKs on Bluestacks
Installing APKs on Bluestacks is different from installing games from the Google Play Store. To do this, you first of all need to have the APK file downloaded on your computer. This is especially useful when you want to install third-party apps that are not available on Google’s Play Store. Below are the steps to install APK files from your Windows PC or Mac on Bluestacks.
- Launch Bluestacks and make sure “Home” is highlighted, then click “My Apps” at the top left corner of the Bluestacks window.
- At the bottom-right corner of the Bluestacks window, click “Install APK”. This will open a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
- Go to the location or folder where the APK file you want to install is located and click the APK file to select it.
- Then click “Open” at the bottom-right corner of the File Explorer window. This will start installing the app immediately.
- Once the installation is completed, you will see the app’s icon on the “My Apps” tab. Click on it to open the app.
How to Install Games on Bluestacks
Installing games that are available on the Google Play Store is different from the method of installing third-party apps on Bluestacks. The following steps will work you through this method.
- Open Bluestacks and click “My Apps” tab in the Home screen at the upper-left corner.
- Click “System App” in the top right side of the My Apps page. This folder contains stock Bluestacksapps.
- Click “Google Play” with the triangular multi-colored icon which will open Google Play Store.
- Right on top, you will see the search bar text box. Click on it and type the name of the game you want to install and hit enter.
- From the results, click the game you searched for and click the green install button.
- Depending on the app, you might be prompted to accept some terms. Click Accept.
- Once the installation is completed, you will see “Open” click on it to launch the app. Or you can alternatively launch the app from My Apps page by clicking the app’s icon.
How to Fix Bluestacks Engine Won’t Start Error
The moment you get this error message on your screen, everything becomes ineffective because it keeps popping up. For you to be reading this post, I am pretty sure you have encountered this error message on your screen. But not to worry, I will be explaining the possible solutions and how to fix this error below.
One of the major causes of this error message is when you install the latest Bluestacks or download the latest update of a new version. Windows updates too can cause this error through a bug while updating, sometimes it might be due to wrong settings or when you disable your computer’s virtualization technology. By following the following methods, you will be able to clear this error once and for all.
Disable Antivirus Temporarily
The first thing to do when you encounter this error message is to temporarily disable your anti-virus and check of Bluestacks will work better. To do this, launch your antivirus software and find the ‘Disable’ option. Once you do that and Bluestacks runs fine, then you might have to change your antivirus to prevent future occurrence of the error.
Change to DirectX and Change your RAM Capacity
By default, Bluestacks uses OpenGL for its graphics mode. You can try and switch this graphics mode to DirectX and reboot your device to clear this error. Please follow the steps below to change the graphics mode:
- Launch BlueStacks
- Go to options by clicking the button which looks like an arrow pointing down.
- Click on Settings
- Then Engine
- Select the DirectX option and click Restart Now
If after all this you still get this error message, then you might also want to change your RAM capacity. You can do so by clicking “Engine” in settings, to the right, you’ll see the option for CPU & RAM allocation. Adjust the RAM capacity to the right and hit Restart Now to see if it helps.
- Turn-on Virtualization Technology
This could be part of the reason you see this error message when your Virtualization Technology is not enabled. It helps Bluestacks to operate smoothly and faster without issues, but you have to make sure this technology is supported by your system first. To check for system support depends on what processor you are using.
1) For Intel Processor Users
- First, you have to download IPIU(Intel Processor Identification Utility)
- Then install and run the IPIU
- Go to the tab CPU Technologies
- From the drop-down menu, select Intel Virtualization Technology. If it says “Yes”, it means your system supports the Virtualization Technology.
2) For AMD Processor Users
- For those who use an AMD processor, you will need to download the AMD Detection Utility
- Install and run the Utility software which will then notify you with a “The system is compatible with Hyper-V.” This means your system is compatible with Virtualization Technology.
Bluestacks Mac Os High Sierra
But in the event where Virtualization Technology is not supported by your system, you can skip this process. You can enable Virtualization Technology from your BIOS settings using the steps shown below.
- First, you will have to restart your system
- Then press any of the following keys Esc, F8, F12, or F10 when the manufacturer’s logo comes out.
- By pressing any of the keys, it will bring up your BIOS menu. Sometimes you might not see it directly and you will need to select the menu yourself from the list.
- Search through the menu options for Intel Virtualization Technology, Virtualization Technology, Intel VT for Direct I/O, or any name your system manufacturer uses. Then enable the option and select “Save settings and Exit”.
Try Uninstalling and Reinstalling BlueStacks
If the above methods do not stop this error, then you will have to uninstall and reinstall the application to see if the errors will clear off.
- On your keyboard, hold the key with the Windows logo and press R to bring up the RUN command
- In the search box, type “%temp%” and hit the Enter key
- Select all the files in the folder by pressing the Ctrl key and A simultaneously
- When all the files are selected, hit the Delete on your keyboard and follow the prompts. This will erase all the files in the temp folder
- Download and install the “BlueStacks Uninstall” application and launch it. This uninstaller will remove all files related to Bluestacks on your computer which might take some couple of minutes
- Click “Yes” to confirm your actions and then OK when the process completes
- Download the most recent version of Bluestacks again using the link given earlier in this post. After that, you will have to go into safe mode on your computer.
- Again, hold the key with the windows logo and press R on your keyboard
- In the search box, type “msconfig” and hit Enter key.
- Go to the Boot tab and select Safe Boot
- Select OK and then Restart when it prompts you
- After system restart, your system will activate Safe Mode
- Double click the BlueStacks installer and wait for the installation to complete
- Once it is done, you can then turn off Safe Mode
- Hold down the key with the windows icon and R
- When the Run Command comes up, type “msconfig” and press the Enter key
- Go to Boot tab in the options and uncheck Safe Boot
- Then click OK to confirm and restart your computer in normal mode
Fixed: Bluestacks Snapchat not Working
Just because Bluestacks was developed with gaming in mind does not mean you can not use other android apps on it too. So, some time ago, apps like Snapchat used to work on Bluestacks but recently it gives an error message saying you are using a version of Snaptchat that is no longer supported. The major reason for this error is that Snapchat developers have in recent times have decided not to allow their app work with the latest Bluestacks versions. So, the best thing to do is to downgrade to an older version of Bluestacks.
Uninstall and Reinstall a Previous Version of Bluestacks
If you are currently using Bluestacks 3 or 4, then you might want to uninstall it and reinstall version 2. To do so:
- Hold the Windows key on your keyboard and press R
- In the command box, type “appwiz.cpl” without the quotation marks and press Enter
- Find Bluestacks and click uninstall, then follow the prompts. Or right-click Bluestacks and click uninstall.
- Download the installer for the older “Bluestacks 2” version from the Bluestacks website.
- After it has finished downloading, double click on the installer and follow the installation instructions on your screen. That’s all.
Try Installing Casper
Since the Snapchat developers are making changes to their application to restrict it from working on emulators. This is where Casper comes in, it can be used to make Snapchat unable to detect if it is being run on an emulator. So, let’s download and install Casper.
- Visit this linkto get the Casper APK file
- After downloading Casper, launch Bluestacks and at the top right corner of its home screen, click the “3 dots”.
- Then select Install APK option
- Then select the Casper.apk file you just downloaded and it will automatically install.
- Launch Casper and then install the latest Snapchat version on it.
But if this does not work for you, then there is only one more thing we can do.
- Try Using Snapchat in Beta Mode
Using the Snapchat beta version is another way to avoid this error message. This is because beta apps are used to test recent updates in applications before they are fully rolled out to the general public. For you to switch to beta mode, you, first of all, have to get the beta version of Snapchat.
- login on your Snapchat account through Bluestacks
- Click on Settings (the gear icon)
- Scroll down under the “Advanced” section, you will see “Join Snapchat Beta” click on it.
- Download the beta version and login to this version of Snapchat on Bluestacks. The beta version will automatically be applied.
F.A.Q
Is Bluestacks Free Software?
Yes! Bluestacks is totally free to download and install on Windows and Mac OS.
Can I stream on Bluestacks?
Yes! You can stream by installing an OBS studio or OBS classic. Follow this guide for more details on how to stream using OBS studio or classic.
Is it possible to transfer files from Bluestack to PC/Mac and Vice Versa?
Of course, you can transfer files from your Windows/Mac to Bluestacks and vice versa by going to the My Apps tab>More Apps>Media manager>Import from Windows or Export to Windows. Refer to this guide for more details.
How do I check and install BlueStacks updates?
You can check for the latest Bluestacks updates by clicking on the gear icon at the bottom left>About>Check for updates>download.
Conclusion
Bluestacks App Player is one excellent application software that was created to solve a seriously challenging problem among Android users. This emulator converts your Windows and Mac computers into an Android environment where you will be able to run .apk files effortlessly.
It even runs apps faster with better graphics than mobile devices and has a lot of amazing features as well. If you are a mobile gaming enthusiast or user of some mobile apps that you would prefer on a bigger screen, then Bluestacks is your solution.
I hope this article has helped you to successfully download and install this software on your Windows and Mac to enjoy your favourite android apps.
Type | Private company |
---|---|
Industry | Virtualization, mobile software |
Genre | |
Founded | April 25, 2009; 12 years ago[1][2] |
Founders | Rosen Sharma, Jay Vaishnav, Suman Saraf[3] |
Headquarters | , United States |
Worldwide | |
Key people |
|
Products | App Player, GamePop |
Website | www.bluestacks.com |
BlueStacks Client with Androidhome screen open as of July 2021. | |
Stable release | |
---|---|
Operating system | Windows 7 or later;[5]macOS Sierra or later[6] |
Platform | IA-32, x86-64 |
Size | 527 MB |
Available in | 48 languages |
Type | |
License | Freeware |
Website | www.bluestacks.com |
Bluestacks Mac Os X 10.7.5
BlueStacks is an American technology company known for the BlueStacks App Player and other cloud-based cross-platform products. The BlueStacks App Player is designed to enable Android applications to run on PCs running Microsoft Windows and Apple's macOS. The company was founded in 2009 by Jay Vaishnav, Suman Saraf, and Rosen Sharma, former CTO at McAfee and a board member of Cloud.com.
Investors include Samsung.[7]
The company was announced May 26, 2011, at the Citrix Synergy conference in San Francisco. Citrix CEO Mark Templeton demonstrated an early version of BlueStacks onstage and announced that the companies had formed a partnership. The public alpha version of App Player was launched on October 11, 2011.[8] App Player exited beta on June 7, 2014. On July 23, 2014 Samsung announced [7] it had invested in BlueStacks. This brought total outside investment in BlueStacks to $26 million.[9]
BlueStacks App Player[edit]
The App Player, software that virtualizes an Android OS, can be downloaded in versions for Windows 10 and macOS. The software's basic features are free to download and use. Advanced optional features require a paid monthly subscription.[10] The company claims the App Player can run 1.5 million Android apps as of November 2019.[11] As of February 2021, BlueStacks have been downloaded over 1 billion times and has more than 500 million users.[12] App Player features mouse, keyboard, and external touchpad controls.
BlueStacks for Mac[edit]
Bluestacks For Apple
On June 27, 2012, the company released an alpha-1 version of its App Player software for macOS,[13] while the beta version was released on December 27, 2012.
In April 2015, BlueStacks, Inc. announced that a new version of App Player for macOS, 2.0, was in development, which was released in July.[14]
BlueStacks 2[edit]
In December 2015, BlueStacks, Inc. released the new version BlueStacks 2.0[15] which lets users run multiple Android applications simultaneously.[16] BlueStacks 2.0 was also available for Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks or later, till 2018.
BlueStacks TV (BTV)[edit]
On April 7, 2016, the company released BlueStacks TV which integrated Twitch.tv directly into the BlueStacks App Player.[17] This addition allows users to stream their apps to Twitch without the need for extra hardware or software. BlueStacks released Facebook Live integration in September 2016, allowing users to stream their gameplay to their Facebook profiles, Pages they control, or Facebook Groups they belong to.[18]
BlueStacks 3[edit]
In July 2017, BlueStacks released BlueStacks 3 based on a brand new engine and front-end design.[19] BlueStacks 3 added App Center which personalizes game suggestions, an account system, chat, new keymapping interface, and multi-instance. Multi-instance allows users to launch multiple BlueStacks windows using either the same or different Google Play account.
BlueStacks 3N[edit]
On January 19, 2018, BlueStacks announced the release of the BlueStacks + N Beta which runs on Android 7 (Android Nougat) and claimed to be the first and only Android gaming platform to have Android 7 at the time, since the majority of Android emulators ran Android 4.4 (KitKat), including prior BlueStacks versions.[20] This beta version is powered by an upgraded 'HyperG' graphics engine allowing BlueStacks to utilize the full array of Android 7 APIs
BlueStacks 4[edit]
On September 18, 2018, BlueStacks announced the release of its latest flagship version, BlueStacks 4. BlueStacks 4 benchmarks 6-8x faster than every major mobile phone according to the Antutu benchmark.[21] BlueStacks 4 also includes dynamic resource management which only initializes the required Android libraries thus freeing resources. A new dock and search offer a clean user interface. New AI powered key-mapping tool auto maps keys in supported games with key customization also available for further tweaking. In addition, BlueStacks 4 supports[22] both 32-bit and 64-bit version of Android 7.1.2 Nougat.
Development for macOS has been restarted, and version 4 is currently available from the website as of November 2019, first released for Mac in January 2019.[23]
BlueStacks 4 64-Bit Beta[edit]
On January 17, 2019, BlueStacks released a 64-bit version of BlueStacks 4 via its early access program.[24] This version runs on a 64-bit version of Android 7.1.2 which allows for improved performance, and more efficient memory usage. The prerequisites for running this build include running a 64-bit version of Windows 8 or later, with virtualization enabled, and Hyper-V disabled. This 64-bit release allows the installation and usage of ARM64-v8a android applications.
BlueStacks 5[edit]
On May 19, 2021, BlueStacks released BlueStacks 5.[25]
Minimum requirements[edit]
Current minimum requirements for App Player for Windows include: Windows 7 or higher, 2 GB or higher system memory, 5 GB of hard drive space, administrator rights, and an Intel or AMD processor.[5] BlueStacks clashes with the BitDefender antivirus software.[26] An update to the latest graphic card driver version is also recommended.
Minimum requirements for macOS are: macOS Sierra or higher, 4 GB RAM, 4 GB disk space, and a model newer than 2014. BlueStacks has explicitly said that they have not supported Apple silicon yet.[27]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'BlueStacks hits a billion apps used per month and launches new mobile platform'. VentureBeat. December 3, 2015. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^'BlueStacks Partners With AMD, Bringing 500,000 Android Apps To Windows PCs'. TechCrunch. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^Media, Ryan Daws | 19th September 2018 | TechForge (September 19, 2018). 'BlueStacks emulates Android '6x faster' than leading smartphone and is a verified app (safe to download)'. Developer Tech News. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^'Download BlueStacks Offline Installer'. Bluestacks - The Best Android Emulator on PC as Rated by You. January 21, 2017. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ ab'System requirements for BlueStacks 4'. BlueStacks Support. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^'How can I Install and launch BlueStacks on Mac OS?'. BlueStacks Support. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ abEtherington, Darrell. 'After 10M Downloads, Samsung Backs GamePop As BlueStacks Adds $13M In New Funding'. TechCrunch. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^Empson, Rip. 'BlueStacks Releases App Player And Cloud Connect Service To Let You Run Android Apps On Your PC'. TechCrunch. Archived from the original on December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^'Samsung invests $13M in Android microgaming console GamePop'. CNET. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^Whitney, Lance. 'Android apps can now run on your PC via BlueStacks'. CNET. Archived from the original on December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^'BlueStacks Features and Comparison'. Bluestacks - The Best Android Emulator on PC as Rated by You. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^'What is Bluestacks?'. Bluestacks - The Best Android Emulator on PC as Rated by You. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^Rosenblatt, Seth. 'BlueStacks ports Android apps to Mac'. CNET. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
- ^'BlueStacks - Did you pre-order the new Macbook?'. www.facebook.com. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^'Bluestacks Review and Fix Engine issues'. TechnoIliyas. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^'BlueStacks 2.0 Launched, Lets You Run Multiple Apps Simultaneously'. NDTV Gadgets 360. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^'Twitch users can now live stream Android games from their PC'. techcrunch.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^'Stream Android apps on Facebook Live with Bluestacks'. engadget.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
- ^'BlueStacks 2 vs. BlueStacks 3 Features'. bluestacks.com. July 30, 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^'Android N Comes to PC; BlueStacks Releases the First Android Gaming Platform Ever to Run Android N'. gamasutra.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^'BlueStacks, an Android emulator for PC, gets an update with major performance upgrade'. gamasutra.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^Kumar, Rahul (August 19, 2019). 'Is Bluestacks safe for Windows and macOS PC?'. HubsAdda. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^'Release Notes'. BlueStacks Support. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^'Join our Discord Server for Early Access Releases and a Great Community'. reddit.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- ^BlueStacks 5 Global Release, retrieved June 5, 2021
- ^'r/BlueStacks - BlueStack and Bitdefender blocking some XML files'. reddit. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^'System specifications for installing BlueStacks on macOS'. BlueStacks Support. Retrieved January 8, 2021.